Method for disinterring a casket

ABSTRACT

METHOD FOR DISINTERRING A CASKET WHILE MINIMIZING THE PRESENCE OF GERMS AND/OR UNDESIRABLE ODORS. IN CARRYING OUT THE METHOD, A HOLE IS DRILLED THROUGH THE VALULT AND INTO THE CASKET, AND A PROBE IS INSERTED INTO THE CASKET THROUGH THE HOLE. A LIQUID IN THE FORM OF A FINELY DIVIDED MIST, AND A GAS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY SPRAYED INTO THE CASKET, AND THE CASKET IS THEN REMOVED FROM THE VALULT. THE APPARATUS OF THE INVENTION COMPRISES A PROBE HAVING A GAS PIPE AND A LIQUID DELIVERY PIPE WITHIN THE GAS PIPE. THE GAS PIPE HAS AN OPENING IN THE SIDE ADJACENT TO ONE END, AND THE LIQUID DELIVERY PIPE HAS A NOZZLE FOR SPRAYING A MIST OF LIQUID THROUGH THE OPENING. MEANS ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR DELIVERING A LIQUID TO THE NOZZLE AND A GAS TO THE OPENING.

June 13, 1972- Hus ETAL METHOD FOR DISINTERRING A CASKET Filed Sept. 25, 1970 United States Patent 3,669,614 METHOD FOR DISINTERRING A CASKET Richard J. Husa, 11255 W. 74th St., La Grange, Ill.

60525, and James A. Stark, 300 Canterberry Lane,

Oak Brook, Ill. 60521 Filed Sept. 25, 1970, Ser. No. 75,492 Int. Cl. A611 9/00 US. Cl. 212 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method for disinterring a casket while minimizing the presence of germs and/or undesirable odors. In carrying out the method, a hole is drilled through the vault and into the casket, and a probe is inserted into the casket through the hole. A liquid in the form of a finely divided mist, and a gas are simultaneously sprayed into the casket, and the casket is then removed from the vault.

The apparatus of the invention comprises a probe having a gas pipe and a liquid delivery pipe within the gas pipe. The gas pipe has an opening in the side adjacent to one end, and the liquid delivery pipe has a nozzle for spraying a mist of liquid through the opening. Means are also provided for delivering a liquid to the nozzle and a gas to the opening.

The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for disinterring acasket, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for disinterring a casket while minimizing the presence of germs and/or undesirable odor.

It is a conventional practice when burying a human corpse to place it in a casket, and to place the casket inside of a vault, which is sealed against any substantial passage of liquids and gases. As the corpse decomposes, it releases fluid and develops a strong and extremely unpleasant odor, which is trapped within the vault. In addition, the vault will contain a variety of bacteria and other types of germs, many of which may be harmful to living persons. The presence of harmful germs is a particular possibility in instances where the person being disinterred has died of a communicable disease.

Generally, the present invention provides a method for disinterring a casket in a vault while significantly reducing the undesirable odor and/or dangerous germs. In carrying out the method, a hole is first drilled through the wall of the vault and into the casket. An elongated probe is then inserted into the casket through the hole. A liquid and a gas are then simultaneously delivered into the casket through the probe, the liquid being sprayed in the form of a finely divided mist. Finally, the casket is removed from the vault.

The invention also provides an improved apparatus for spraying a liquid into a casket. The apparatus generally comprises an elongated probe comprising an outer elongated annular gas pipe having an opening in the side thereof adjacent to one end. A liquid delivery pipe is mounted within the gas pipe, and is positioned to create an air passage in the space between the gas pipe and the liquid delivery pipe. A nozzle communicates with the liquid delivery pipe, and is positioned to deliver a spray of liquid from the liquid delivery pipe through the opening in the gas pipe. Means are also provided for delivering a liquid to the nozzle through the fluid delivery pipe, and for delivering a gas to the opening through the gas pipe.

The invention, its construction and method of operation, together with the objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken together with the drawing, which is a combination diagrammatic view of a system and crosssectional view of a probe embodying the present invention.

Whether buried underground or placed in a mausoleum, a casket is normally enclosed in a vault of concrete or the like. In carrying out the present invention, it is first necessary to drill a hole through the vault wall and into the casket. This hole should be of a diameter sufiicient to permit the insertion and turning of the probe, as hereinafter described. After the hole has been drilled, a probe is inserted into the casket through the hole. A liquid is then sprayed into the casket through the probe in the form of a finely divided mist. In accordance with the invention, both a stream of gas, generally air, and a mist of liquid are simultaneously delivered into the casket. The air helps in dispersing the mist throughout the casket.

The amount of liquid sprayed into the casket depends upon several factors, including the characteristics and concentration of active ingredients in the liquid, the state of decomposition of the corpse, and the desired results, i.e., deodorization, germicidal effect, or both. As a general matter, about one quart to about one gallon of liquid is required to treat a casket.

A wide variety of liquids can be employed in carrying out the present invention. An example of a liquid that can be used is sold by the Airkem Company, a division of Airwick Industries, New York, N.Y., under the trademark Fresh Guard. A suitable solution may also be compounded using a combination of water; an alcohol such as isoproponal; a germicide, such as methyldodecylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium fluoride; and a perfume or other suitable odor-masking material.

The drawing illustrates a probe, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, together with a liquid and gas supply system, generally indicated by reference numeral 12, embodying the features of the present invention. The probe 10 comprises an outer elongated annular gas pipe 14 and a liquid delivery pipe 16 mounted within the gas pipe 14, and positioned to create a gas passage 18 between the gas pipe 14 and the liquid delivery pipe 16. In the embodiment shown, the gas pipe 14 and liquid delivery pipe 16 are generally cylindrical, and are also coaxial. Thus, the gas passage 18 is annular. However, it will be understood that these shapes are not critical, so long as the gas passage 18 permits the passage of gas into the casket as hereinafter described.

The gas pipe 14 has an opening 20 in the side, adjacent to one end. The liquid delivery pipe 16 has a nozzle 22 positioned to deliver a spray of liquid from the liquid delivery pipe 16 through the opening 20. Such a spray should be in the form of a finely divided mist, and is indicated by reference numeral 24. The fact that the opening 20 is in the side of the probe 10 permits the direction of the spray 24 to be changed by rotating the probe 10 within the casket.

The liquid and gas supply system 12 delivers a gas to the opening 20 through the gas passage 18, and also delivers a liquid to the nozzle 22 through the liquid delivery pipe 16. To this end, the liquid and gas supply system 12 comprises a liquid reservoir 26, a gas reservoir 28, and a gas source 30 for supplying a gas under pressure. The gas source 30 communicates with the gas reservoir 28 via a gas line 32 having a valve 34-. Similarly, the gas source 30 communicates with the liquid reservoir 26 by means of a gas line 36 having a valve 38. The gas line 36 preferably communicates with the liquid reservoir 26 at a point above the maximum liquid level, so that an area of pressurized gas is formed above the liquid.

Liquid communication between the liquid reservoir 26 and the liquid delivery pipe 16 is provided by a liquid 3 supply line 40 having a valve 42. The liquid supply line 40 communicates with the liquid reservoir 26 at a point at or near the bottom, so that all of the liquid can be delivered to the liquid delivery pipe 16.

Gas is delivered from the gas reservoir 28 to the gas passage 18 via a gas supply line 44 having both a shut-01f valve 46 and a pressure-regulating valve 48.

In operation, as previously mentioned, a hole is drilled through the vault (not shown), and into a casket (not shown), and the probe is inserted through the hole a. distance sufficient that the opening 20 penetrates within the casket. Either before or after the probe is inserted, the liquid and gas reservoir 26, 28, respectively, are pressurized to the desired level. This pressurization is accomplished by closing the valves 42, 46 on the liquid supply line 40 and the gas supply line 44, and by opening the valves 34, 38 on the gas lines 32, 36. The gas source 30 is then operated to pressurize the liquid reservoir 28-, 26, respectively, to the desired level, say, 100 p.s.i.g. Ordinarily, the gas source 30 will be an air compressor, so that the gas employed will be air. However, other gases could be used, and the gas source 30 could, for example, be a tank of nitrogen or carbon dioxide. Once the reservoirs 26, 28 have been pressurized to the desired level, the valves 34-, 38 on the gas lines 32, 36 are closed. The gas source 30 may be shut ofi at this time.

The valve 42 on the liquid supply line 40 and the shutoff valve 46 on the gas supply line 44 are simultaneously opened, so that the liquid is delivered through the liquid delivery pipe 16 to the nozzle 22 and gas is delivered to the gas passage 18 through the opening 20. The pressure regulating valve 48 is adjusted so that the gas reservoir 28 will run out of pressure at about the same time that the liquid reservoir 26 runs out of liquid. As the liquid and gas are delivered into the casket, the probe 10 is rotated in order to obtain a uniform delivery of mist throughout the casket. When the liquid reservoir 26 has been emptied, the excess gas under pressure from the reservoir 26 will pass through the liquid delivery pipe 16 and the nozzle 22, performing the desirable function of cleaning out the liquid supply line 40, the liquid delivery pipe 16, and the nozzle 22. The probe 10 is then withdrawn from the casket, and the vault may be opened and the casket disinterred. As a result of such treatment, when odor-masking chemicals are sprayed into the casket, the objectionable odor is substantially reduced. In addition, if a germicide is employed, the danger of infecting workers with infectious organisms is reduced.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claim all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A method for disinterring a casket in a vault comprising: drilling a hole through said vault and into said casket; inserting a probe into said casket through said hole; simultaneously spraying a liquid comprising a deodorizing or germicidal agent, or mixtures thereof, and delivering a gas into said casket through said probe, said liquid being sprayed in the form of a finely divided mist; and removing said casket from said vault.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 251,925 1/1882 Nietscke 2158 1,013,963 1/1912 Smith 21-75 X 2,705,828 4/1955 Halley 27--35 MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner J. T. ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

